Texas A&M legend Mike Evans is projected to join the Washington Commanders in 2026, giving QB Jayden Daniels a proven No. 1 target.
Could Mike Evans really swap pewter and red for burgundy and gold? An NFL offseason rumor gaining traction suggests the longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers star could be headed to the Washington Commanders for the 2026 season.
The idea, floated by SI’s Conor Orr, centers on one simple concept: pairing a future Hall of Fame-caliber wide receiver with a young quarterback on the rise.
Evans, the former Texas A&M standout and No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, has been the model of consistency.
He opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, cementing himself as one of the most productive wide receivers of his generation.
That streak finally snapped this past year after a hamstring injury, a concussion, and a broken collarbone limited his availability.
Even so, Evans remains one of the NFL’s most quarterback-friendly weapons. At 6-5 with elite body control and red-zone instincts, he has long been a matchup nightmare. And Washington desperately needs that kind of presence.
The Commanders ranked 24th in the league in passing offense last season, averaging just 184.1 yards per game.
Deebo Samuel was the only Washington receiver to finish inside the league’s top 50 in receiving yards. For a franchise trying to accelerate the development of quarterback Jayden Daniels, that production simply isn’t enough.
Daniels flashed promise but battled injuries that stalled momentum during his second season. Adding a veteran like Evans would give him a reliable boundary target capable of winning contested catches and stretching defenses vertically.
From a roster-building perspective, the timing makes sense.
Daniels is still on his rookie contract, which allows Washington flexibility under the salary cap to chase proven veterans. If the front office views the next two seasons as a Super Bowl window, investing in a six-time Pro Bowler could be the aggressive swing they need.
Other contenders - including the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers - have also been mentioned as possible fits.
But if Evans truly wants another Lombardi Trophy before his career winds down, Washington might offer something compelling: opportunity, cap space, and a quarterback hungry to take the next leap.
The question now isn’t whether Mike Evans can still elevate an offense. It’s whether Tampa Bay is ready to let him go.